Dress-tray case.



No. 804,367. PATENTED NOV. 14, 1905. l

A. BAXTER.

DRESS TRAY CASE.

APPLIOATION Hmm 113.11.14, 1904.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC.

DRESS-TRAY CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14, 1905.

Application filed March 14, 1904. Serial No. 197,926.

To all whomj t may concern:

Be it known that I, ANNA BAXTER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, haveinvented a new and useful Dress-Tray Case, of which the following is aspecification.

The objects of my invention are to provide.

a device of this class which is of such size that it can be easilyplaced under the ordinary bed and so constructed that dresses and otherarticles of wearing-apparel may be placed in the various compartments ofthe device and be kept perfectly flat while they are stored and yet beseparated from each other, so that the air can circulate through theentire device and keep the wearing-apparel placed therein in much bettercondition than when these articles of wearing-apparel are hung inclosets and similar places.

A further object is toA provide a device of this class in which thecompartments are so arranged as to enable the person desiring to `obtaina partlcular garment to readlly and easily see in which compartment theparticular piece of apparel is without removing any of the trays of thedevice except the one in which the particular article is.

A further object is to provide a device of this class which is of lightmaterial and the parts of which can be disconnected, so that these partscan be packed into a minimum of space.

A further object is to provide means for supporting the various trays inposition relative to each other and relative to the frame of the device.

The material object, however, is to provide a device which is absolutelyproof against vermin of any kind and which will be absolutelydust-proof, so that when it is placed beneath a bed it will occupysubstantially all of the space thereunder and not only keep the dirtfrom accumulating beneath the bed, but also enable the space under bedsto be utilized.

My invention consists in certain details in the construction,arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the device wherebythe objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully setforth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 shows in perspective the complete devicewith the front side swung to an open position. Fig. 2 isadetail view ofone end of the trays which are used in my device; and Fig.

3 is a detail view of one of the rear corners of the device, showing aportion of the runners upon which the tray rests; and Fig. 4 is a detailView of the device for supporting the front side of the tray when it isin its closed position.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I have used thereference-numeral 10 to indicate the ends of the box, the numeral '1l toindicate the top portion of the box, the reference-numeral 12 toindicate the bottom of the box, the numeral 13 to indicate the back sideof the box, and the numeral 14 to indicate the front side of box, whichis hinged to the front edge of the bottom 12. The end portions 10 aredetachably connected with the top and bottom portions 11 and 12, so thatthese sides may be disconnected from the top and bottom portions when itis desirable to pack the device for shipment. The entire frame of thebox, consisting of the sides, ends, top, and bottom portions, ispreferably made of some light metallic substance. Extending around theinterior of the sides, ends, and back side is a series of rail-rests 15,upon which the trays 16 are designed to rest when they are on theinterior of the box, so that these trays will be firmly supported whenthey are filled with articles of clothing. The trays 16, to which I havereferred, are composed of two rods 17 and 18, each of which is soconstructed as to form a complete rectangle. These rods 17 and 18 areattached together at their corners by means of the supporting-pieces 19,so that the frame of the trays which is formed by means of the rods 17and 18 is perfectly rigid. A wire-netting 20 is stretched between theserods 17 and 18 and under the rod 18 and attached to the rod 17, so thatthe tray (shown in Fig. 2) is strong and durable. These trays 16 areplaced on the inside of the box, as is shown in Fig. 1, and can beeasily slid into and out of the box.

Pivotally attached to the central forward portion of the cover 11 is therod21, having a series of supporting-notches 22 on its inner' side, soarranged that when the trays are on the inside of the box each of thenotches 22 will engage the under forward portion of these trays andsupport them when the lower end of the rod 21 rests on the bottom 12 ofthe box. When it is desired to remove any one of the trays 16 from theinside of the box, the rod is drawn outwardly a slight distance and isswung on its pivot out of engagement IOO with the front edges of thetrays and its lower end is placed in the hook 23, which supports it inposition until the tray is drawn out and moved back to position. Theentire box is mounted on rollers 24, so that it can be easily rolled inposition beneath the bed. The ordinary catches 25 are used to hold thefront side in a closed position.

In practical use the trays are assembled as shown in Fig. l. Assumingthat the front side is in a closed position and the supportingrod 21 isin the position shown in Fig. l and it is desired to have access to oneof the trays, the operator swings the front side on its hinges into theposition shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and the rod 21 is drawnoutwardly and swung upwardly to a position where it is supported on thehook 23 and the tray is removed. It will be seen that on account of theway in which the trays are placed in the box the interior of these trayscan be easily and readily seen, so that the person using the box caneasily ascertain which tray he desires to remove without removing any ofthe trays. In closing the box he simply reverses the operationdescribed. In the use of my device I intend to use trousersstretchers,which can be easily attached to the ends of the tray, so that When thetrousers are removed they will be perfectly smooth. Stretchers for thedresses may also be provided, so that the dresses will come out smooth.

VHaving thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States therefor, is-

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a framecomprising a top and bottom portion, end portions detachably mountedbetween said top and bottom portions, a back side connected with the topand bottom portions and with the end portions, a front side hinged tothe bottom, a series of trays slidingly mounted in said frame, wovenwiresides, ends and bottom for each of said trays, and a rod pivotallyattached to the under portion of the cover and having projectionsthereon in engagement with each of said trays.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a Aframecomprising a top and bottom portion, end portions detachably mountedbetween said top and bottom portions, a back side connected with the topand bottom portions and with the end portions, a front side hinged tothe bottom, a series of trays slidingly mounted in said frame, wovenwiresides, ends and bottom for each of said trays, and a pivotally andslidingly mounted rod attached to said cover and designed to normallyrest on said bottom portion having projections thereon designed toengage the front edges of said trays.

ANNA BAXTER.

Witnesses:

A. G. HAGUE, S. F. CHRISTY.

